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Google IT Technology

The Google Pixel 6 Won't Ship With a Charger (theverge.com) 96

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Google is the latest manufacturer to bid farewell to the in-box charging brick, saying it expects the Pixel 5A will be the last phone to include one. That means the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro won't include one when they arrive this fall. From a report: The company says that most people already have a USB-C charging brick, so there's no longer a need to include one with its phones. Apple and Samsung made similar arguments when they announced they would no longer be offering an in-box charger. That may be true, but it's likely that the cost savings of not including a charger played a big role in those decisions.
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The Google Pixel 6 Won't Ship With a Charger More

The Google Pixel 6 Won't Ship With a Charger

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  • I only have micro-B cables you insensitive clods!

    Have you ever tried to buy an aftermarket USB-C cable? Still a mess. [slashdot.org]

    • So don't include a power adapter, that's fine. By include a damn cable! I also have no USB-C cables at all. I have one from work but it's only for work.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Hadlock ( 143607 )

        In contrast, all my devices were switched to USB-C about three years ago, I have no micro-usb devices left

    • No, buying a good data cable is a mess. Buying a charging cable for a laptop is a mess, but most laptops that use USB-C come with a charging brick with an attached cable anyway.

      A phone charging cable is the people complained about receiving when they tried to order a data cable!

      If you have a stupid claim to make from your own experience, you can at least say you experienced something that way. Here, you're just pointing at a situation you don't understand, and hoping it means something.

      Amazon has ones under

      • >Amazon has ones under $10 with over tens of thousands of reviews and a high rating.

        I recently found the highest-rated charging cables I could, purposefully selected for the most and best ratings. Didn't do more than trickle-charge my Note 8.

        USB-C was a giant mistake.

        • Yeah it's not just you, the bonus of the included charger is you know it will change the thing at its optimal speed. You could get something with thousands of great reviews on amazon - and whoops, they're because it worked great with a previous-generation iPhone or something.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Hadlock ( 143607 )

        I've been buying USB-C cables on Amazon for about 5 years now, I've always bought Anker brand and never had an issue. A couple bucks for a cable, usually in the 6' range. I don't know of a single person who's actually had issues with USB-C in the real world

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by kqs ( 1038910 )

          I used to have problems (I was a very early usb-c adopter), but I started buying monoprice cables and anker chargers, and all of my problems went away. It's kinda like beer; if you buy beer from a bad brewery, you have nobody to blame but yourself when it tastes bad. I buy good beer and good usb-c accessories, and can charge my phones, laptops, headsets, batteries, and more without a problem.

          I just got a new Anker 2-port 65W usb-c charger for my bag; that one charger should do everything I need when I tra

          • It's a lot like beer; if you're just using it for the simplest use, like slug or fly bait, then the cheapest one works. If you're charging a cell phone, the cheapest one works. Same for headsets, or batteries.

            It is only laptops that require special power cables.

            Data cables, sure, you may or may not get what you wanted. Do research.

            One amusing detail; if you have a fancy charger and a cheap cable, you might only get a low-current charge. But a cheap charger with a cheap cable will likely give the advertised

    • >USB-C

      Ah yes, the UNIVERSAL cable that's so universal if you don't get the one that has the perfect pairing of MOSFETs that your device expects, it'll trickle charge slower than shaking it and hoping the kinetic energy makes a few electrons jump states. But don't expect any manufacturer to indicate what devices the cable works with. Why would they? It's universal!

  • I'm fine with this as long as they stop charging $35 for a charger that should be $3.50.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by Jeremi ( 14640 )

      Or alternatively, they reduce the price of the Pixel 6 by the cost of the charger.

    • Where do you get a charger for $3.50 that doesn't catch fire immediately?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by hey! ( 33014 )

        I would totally buy one of those ... although not to charge stuff. At least not *my* stuff.

      • Yeah, really. There are some parts inside that are what keep you from being shocked. Go too cheap and those parts may be counterfeit and the gap distance between the low and high voltage sides may be nothing

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by kqs ( 1038910 )

          This is one of the issues with usb-c. People have gotten used to cheap usb-a chargers, which work because they draw almost no current so no matter how badly the manufacturer screws up you are in no danger. usb-c chargers can draw up to 100W, which is more than enough to let the magic smoke out (in both the charger and your device). So if you go cheap, you get what you pay for.

      • Aliexpress. Is $4.37 with shipping close enough?

        https://www.aliexpress.com/ite... [aliexpress.com]

    • I definitely wouldn't buy a charger for $3.50. The cost of reducing 120-240 volts to a stable DC level isn't cheap, and requires some form of inductor to smoothly move volts and amps to a usable level. Especially USB-C where it can go between 5 to possibly 48 volts, and the power needs to be incredibly clean.

      At the minimum, $15-$20 for an Apple, Anker or similar name brand charger. It is twice the price of stuff you find in a bin at the local pharmacy, but it is well made, and one isn't risking a house f

      • I have a personal rule to never buy tech of a few dollars that goes in a wall plug. Don't want to risk burning my house now that I own one. Broke that rule once. Got a cheap 7$ 4 port usb charger. I remember telling my wife "let's see what happens if you plug in cheap electronics ordered from the internet" A loud bang followed, accompanied by a bright flash. Circuitbreaker tripped. Wife was not happy. Got a decent charger for christmas though.

        • I learned that lesson with battery banks. In general, Jackery, Goal Zero, Bluetti, and other makers tend to be about $1/watt-hour. I tried two no-name brands. Once instantly would fry anything plugged into the 120 volt outlet... even stuff that switched between 120 and 240. The second one would just power off at random. Both went back to where they came from.

          Never go cheap on electrical stuff.

    • The only charger you get for $3.50 are the kind that simultaneously void your fire insurance while burning your house down. Despite what you think there's an actual component cost to those little things, even in volume of 100k

  • The rear fingerprint reader was one of my primary buying points of the nexus/pixel line. Its right were my hand is when i pick it up and war more convenient then contorting my thumb to reach the bottom of the screen

  • I have probably 5 or 6 USB-C devices in my home and I can't help but spend 30 minutes every time I turn around hunting down one of those things. So frustrating. I suppose with the charging pads that USB-C charging bricks are becoming a thing of the past. Blarg.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jabuzz ( 182671 )

      Eh, spend some cash and put a USB charger in all the appropriate locations you might want to charge a device from with a suitable lead. Ikea do a single port 10W charger for $5, which is more than adequate for a phone. They do a 23W charger for $12.

      Personally I have a bunch of Apple 5W USB chargers for nightstand charging. Only Apple devices I own, purchased in an actual Apple store because counterfeits. The UK variant is nice a slimline so fits in a socket behind a night stand. More than adequate to charge

  • I am sure this was one one the reasons. https://www.independent.co.uk/... [independent.co.uk] So, now a easy task to not ship one. You already have one.

  • Sure, I've got a high-speed charger from my previous phone... but I'll lose value selling my old phone if the box isn't as-shipped

  • Service-less economy (Score:3)

    by AndyKron ( 937105 ) on Tuesday August 17, 2021 @01:30PM (#61701857)
    I can remember when people pumped our gas for us. We also got a soda with our McBurger without having to fill it ourselves. Checkouts at stores used to have people and so did banks with tellers. Now we're considered scum of the Earth if someone sees us not drinking water that someone has bottled for us. I used to buy things that I didn't have to put together, or spend 10 minutes trying to cut through all the lazy assed tape around the bubble wrap. I'll stop now.

    • And your point is what? That people don't want good service, or they don't want to PAY for good service, even if they want it?

      • Most people can't afford to pay for good service, so they go with the cheapest possible option. What's frustrating is when you purposely go with a more expensive option, expecting good service, and you get the same shit as the bargain basement. This is widespread, and people have every right to be pissed.

        • Most people can't afford to pay for good service, so they go with the cheapest possible option.

          I'm not certain that most people are that poor - they're just cheap.

          What's frustrating is when you purposely go with a more expensive option, expecting good service, and you get the same shit as the bargain basement. This is widespread, and people have every right to be pissed.

          I dunno - I buy a lot of Apple products. I pay a little more, but they have service. A wireless mouse quit on me, I diagnosed the problem, and called them up. After I convinced them it was a real problem, they shipped me out a new mouse overnight, it came in the next morning with a return box to ship to them for them to do a postmortem to see if they could improve the product.

          Recently the update to Big Sur nuked my Bluetooth headset conn

          • And then there's the Apple stores. Something to be said for face to face customer service.

            • And then there's the Apple stores. Something to be said for face to face customer service.

              Exactly, and I forgot about updates. My Samsung tablet hasn't had an update in forever, and only one before that. Wife's iPad gets them all the time.

              Some times I think people who claim that good service doesn't exist any more are just living in a cheap as possible monoculture, where so little profit is made per item that no good service is possible.

    • It's only going to get worse. Complaining about shitty customer service now gets you labeled a "Karen". The feedback loop is broken, and incompetence is going unnoticed.

      That was before the pandemic! I know my expectations have dropped dramatically in the past 18 months. All of the competent people have quit and gone... someplace else? I'm just happy to talk to a human instead of poking at a kiosk.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Things are better when they did need assembling. Much more repairable.

      Most people already have plenty of chargers and they are extremely cheap to buy. It's at the point now where my Pixel 5 charger has never been out of the box and the Pixel 1 one was barely used.

      Environmentally this is the right move.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      I can remember when people pumped our gas for us. We also got a soda with our McBurger without having to fill it ourselves. Checkouts at stores used to have people and so did banks with tellers. Now we're considered scum of the Earth if someone sees us not drinking water that someone has bottled for us. I used to buy things that I didn't have to put together, or spend 10 minutes trying to cut through all the lazy assed tape around the bubble wrap. I'll stop now.

      They still exist.

      There are full service gas st

    • Just imagine all those people wasting time so you could stand around with a smug look on your face when they could be contributing something to the world while you dare to pump your own gasoline.

      But I get it man, I do miss the days when we had slaves to do everything for us.

  • Up Next (Score:5, Funny)

    by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) on Tuesday August 17, 2021 @01:31PM (#61701861)

    Up next, Google no longer includes a phone in the box. This is because marketing has determined that most of their customers already own an Android phone.

  • In other words, Google.... (Score:3)

    by leonbev ( 111395 ) on Tuesday August 17, 2021 @01:36PM (#61701911) Journal

    Wants you to pony up $30 for one of their shiny new "high speed" chargers, or $40 for a wireless charger instead.

    Apple already figured out this trick to improve their accessory profit margins last year, so they're just following suit.

    • I got a nice 5 port Anker charger. My phone, wifeâ(TM)s phone, iPad, watch, two sets of headphones, but you donâ(TM)t have to charge them all at the same time so five ports is plenty. Why would I buy a single port charger from the manufacturer?

      • I got a nice 5 port Anker charger. My phone, wifeâ(TM)s phone, iPad, watch, two sets of headphones, but you donâ(TM)t have to charge them all at the same time so five ports is plenty. Why would I buy a single port charger from the manufacturer?

        Probably so you can use your device somewhere else while it charges. Doesn't mean you need one for every new device.

        • Where did the OP say he is limiting himself to a single multiport charger? Personally I have 3, one of them is in my travel bag and can charge my laptop and phone at the same time.

      • Why is there only a single corner of a single room that you charge every single one of your wireless devices at?

      • some people don't have a wife and kids. other people have kids and don't wish to share a charger with their (teenage) children.

        I suspect charges with 1 or 2 ports works well for people who don't have a lot of devices or use devices in more than one room of their home.

      • The single port chargers are nice to have if at a location that doesn't have a trustworthy USB charging connector. Yes, hotels and such have USB ports, but I prefer bringing my own charger, because it often charges faster than a lot of 500mA ports, and is definitely more trustworthy.

        The Anker chargers are nice to have. I have a few of those multi-port chargers, and they work extremely well.

    • If one were included you could just as easily say "wants you to pay $30 more for a charger you might not need" and you'd probably be right.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by e3m4n ( 947977 )
      Jokes on them when you end up just buying one on amazon. USB-C PD is a standard so any compliant charger that properly delivers the PD standard is going to work.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Fast chargers are convenient but don't do your battery any favours. I'd rather they take that cost out and put it into the phone itself.

      A basic but decent charger costs 2 quid. A wireless charger costs a fiver. Pick the one that suits your needs, for your home or car, magnetic or not.

    • Wants you to pony up $30 for one of their shiny new "high speed" chargers, or $40 for a wireless charger instead.

      How about neither. Seriously who in their right mind buys some shitty single purpose charger rather than a higher power multi device charger.

  • Having one charger with each device that I ever bought is not needed. I have one five port charger in the living room and a ten port hub including a three port charger in the study. I think I have several chargers not even unpacked.

  • Pixel 7 (Score:4, Funny)

    by suss ( 158993 ) on Tuesday August 17, 2021 @01:46PM (#61701953)

    The Pixel 7 will come without a phone, because you already have a phone. The box will just say "use your old phone instead" inside. You will still pay full price, though.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hey! ( 33014 )

      As long as they're being passive-aggressive, they can throw a 3.5 mm headphone jack into the empty box with a note saying, "Here. You asked for this."

    • As a favor though, google will extend the security updates on your old phone by one year, just like if you actually got a new phone too.

  • and under Brazilian law they need to have one!

  • but honestly who doesn't have a USB C charger these days? (I have a few)

    • I actually don't..haven't bought a new device in several years (as the ones I'm using are all working fine), so haven't actually gotten anything with a USB-C cable yet.

      • Dang, you mean you actually have to figure out the polarity of your cable before you plug it in *gasp*

        • At this point in my life, accumulated iterations of the 0.937 seconds it takes for me to glance at the tip and visually identify the USB orientation, has probably stolen an entire seven minutes that could have been put toward better uses, like working to be able to afford that $900 new phone + $200 in new chargers and accessories for all the "upgraded" connection standards.

        • I use a dot of nail polish (easily felt or seen and durable) to mark the "up" side on my USB cables.

    • I tend to keep my phone for years, so when I went to a recent vintage smartphone, I didn't have a USB-C charger on hand. This wasn't really an issue because the phone would charge via a USB-A to Lightning cable, and I bought an Anker Nano USB-C charger as well.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by leonbev ( 111395 )

      I honestly do not. I have some USB A to USB C cables, but all of my USB chargers still have an old style USB port on them.

  • We've got mountains of good used chargers for sale. Both in brick and mortar stores and with the Buhoneros.

    Old nokia barrel, microbarrel, USB-A blocks (that work even with USB mini-micro and C), mini and micro USB with integrated cable, you name it.

    Used chargers galore.

    So, even if you are buying your first phone ever, chances are a memeber of your family has a hand-me down charger for you, or you can buy a good & inexpensive used one.

    Same in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico (seen it with my own eyes).

    So, the

  • My wife has a lightening charger. She doesn't have a USB-C charger. How cheap can they get???

    • Rather than put up with some shitty box charger, why not buy a proper one, maybe a multiport charger so you can charge your wireless earbuds and your phone at the same time.

      It's not a matter of being cheap. Your wife is the odd one out. My sister is a full on Apple nut and also has a mountain of MicroUSB and USB-C chargers lying around. You get that shit with everything these days, I'm surprised they don't fall out of cereal boxes.

  • Curious what the actual cost of a USB-C charger and cable are to Google..? I can't imagine more than a few dollars.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by leonbev ( 111395 )

      I think that the real cost is in the additional packaging they need to fit the charger in the box. By using slimmer packaging without the USB wall wart in there, you can now fit 60,000 phones in a shipping container from China instead of 40,000.

      • Yeah I was thinking about that as well. And the slimmer packaging would be savings as well.

        Plus they'll sell separately anyway for a massive markup.

  • Not shipping new chargers with every phone is reasonable, even more reasonable would be a standardization of user-replaceable batteries.

    But chances are the real reason why they do not include a charger is that the phone will artificially throttle to some mediocre charging speed with non-Google chargers, but they will offer an expensive "original Google" charger as an extra without that limitation applied.
  • Android handsets have settled on USB-C Power Delivery as a charging standard. It's not like before where every device had its own unique and incompatible charger. They don't need to ship with a charger because you can use any other USB-C PD charger to charge them. You can borrow a charger from another Android phone, from a laptop which uses USB-PD for power, from a growing number of devices which use USB-C PD. It makes no sense to include a charger because you probably already have one. And if you don't yet
  • fine with that as long as they are reducing the price to consumers at the same time. But bet you a shiny new $49.,99 charger they won't move the price down a single cent.

  • Yeah, I can see the obvious profit grab (the price won't be going down), but there are actually good environmental reasons for it as well.

    Why make millions of these chargers annually that would just end up in a drawer today, never used, thrown in a landfill in 10 years, and eventually making its way to the sea? It's a little less toxic soup floating in the ocean. And why use more energy to transport the extra bulk and weight of having them in every box?

  • Given that we're all shifting to renting everything now, why would you even NEED a charge cable?? When mine runs out of charge I just buy a new phone. Duh, they come charged people!

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